Golden Sixty will be favored to extend win streak in Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin

Golden Sixty, an Australian-bred gelding with an American pedigree, has the look, and race record, of a star in the making in Hong Kong.

Golden Sixty has won 7 of 8 starts, including his last four races, and will run in the richest race of his career in Monday’s $1.29 million Hong Kong Classic Mile for 4-year-olds at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The Classic Mile, the richest race on Monday’s Chinese New Year program, is the first race of the circuit’s Triple Crown, which continues with the $1.29 million Hong Kong Classic Cup at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 23, and the $2.57 million Hong Kong Derby at 1 1/4 miles on March 22.

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Golden Sixty, trained by Francis Liu, has risen rapidly through Hong Kong’s rating system since the current winning streak began in a six-furlong handicap on Sept. 1, the opening program of the current season. Golden Sixty followed with three wins in seven-furlong races, including the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup on Jan. 1, closing from sixth to prevail by a convincing two lengths as the favorite.

The Classic Mile will be Golden Sixty’s longest race. He is by Medaglia d’Oro and is out of Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor, a pedigree that suggests the mile is well within range. Gaudeamus won the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at seven furlongs for 2-year-olds in Ireland in 2006.

Golden Sixty, who will be ridden by Vincent Ho, is part of a field of nine, and is expected to be a strong favorite. His leading rivals are Beauty Legacy, who won his Hong Kong debut on Jan. 5, and More Than This, a winner of four consecutive races who will be ridden by the world-famous Ryan Moore.

Beauty Legacy, the mount of leading Hong Kong jockey Joao Moreira, won the Group 2 Autumn Stakes in Australia and was later third in the Group 1 Australian Guineas and seventh in the All-Star Mile at Flemington Racecourse in early 2019 when racing under the name Hawkshot.

In his Hong Kong debut, Beauty Legacy closed from last of 12 to win a seven-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on Jan. 5.

More Than This, trained by Liu, is also a closer. His last three wins have been at a mile, a point certain to attract attention from bettors along with the presence of Moore.

The Sha Tin program includes the Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf, which is led by Exultant. The winner of seven group stakes in Hong Kong, including three Group 1 races, Exultant was fourth in the 2018 Classic Mile and third in the Hong Kong Derby that year.